Dava Sobel, a renowned science writer and author of "Longitude," joins the discussion to delve into the remarkable legacy of Marie Curie. They explore Curie’s groundbreaking discoveries in radioactivity that transformed scientific understanding. Sobel discusses the historical gender biases Curie navigated and her role as a trailblazer for women in science. The conversation highlights Curie's significant advancements, the ethical challenges in early cancer treatments, and her lasting impact on future generations, including her daughters.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Dava Sobel's Early Career
Dava Sobel started as a journalist in upstate New York, working for the Binghamton Evening and Sunday Press.
She briefly worked as a technical writer for IBM, unknowingly starting her science writing career.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Longitude's Success
Dava Sobel's book Longitude tells the story of John Harrison, inventor of the seaworthy chronometer.
Despite the seemingly niche topic, the book became a runaway mega bestseller.
insights INSIGHT
Inspiration for Marie Curie Book
Dava Sobel's interest in Marie Curie stemmed from a realization of her own implicit bias against women scientists.
This realization came while writing The Glass Universe, a book about women astronomers at Harvard.
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How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science
Dava Sobel
This book by Dava Sobel is more than a biography; it is a tribute to Marie Curie, the first scientist to win two Nobel Prizes. Sobel navigates Curie's remarkable discoveries and fame alongside the stories of the women who trained in her laboratory, including Ellen Gleditsch, Marguerite Perey, and her own daughter, Irene Joliot-Curie. The narrative explores Curie's ingenuity beyond the laboratory, her personal struggles, and her enduring influence on women in science. Sobel's writing style makes complex scientific concepts accessible while providing a nuanced portrait of Curie's life and legacy[1][3][5].
The glass universe
how the ladies of the Harvard Observatory took the measure of the stars
Dava Sobel
In 'The Glass Universe', Dava Sobel chronicles the lives and achievements of the women who worked at the Harvard Observatory in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These women, often referred to as 'computers', meticulously analyzed glass photographic plates of the stars, leading to groundbreaking discoveries in astronomy. The book highlights the contributions of women such as Williamina Fleming, Annie Jump Cannon, and Dr. Cecilia Helena Payne, and how their work advanced our understanding of the stars and the universe. Sobel's narrative is based on diaries, letters, memoirs, and scientific papers, providing both scientific and personal insights into the lives of these pioneering women.
Longitude
The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
Dava Sobel
In 'Longitude', Dava Sobel narrates the epic scientific quest to determine longitude at sea, a problem that had plagued navigators for centuries. The story centers around John Harrison, a self-educated clockmaker from Yorkshire, who devoted forty years to developing a series of precise chronometers that could accurately measure time even on long and rough sea voyages. By comparing the chronometer's time to local sun time, navigators could precisely measure longitude, a breakthrough that significantly improved maritime navigation and saved countless lives. The book also delves into the historical context, including the establishment of the Board of Longitude and the scientific and political rivalries of the time, making it a compelling tale of human ambition, science, and innovation.
How did Marie Curie’s discoveries in radioactivity change our understanding of the natural world? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice sit down with science writer Dava Sobel, author of a new book on Curie, to explore the enduring impact of her work on radioactivity.
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